Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (8/13)

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Pritzker Signs ‘Sonya Massey’s Bill’ Into Law, Requiring Stricter Background Checks for Police Hiring 

“The new law requires law enforcement agencies across Illinois to review all aspects of a person’s background and employment before offering a position as an officer, including physical and psychological fitness-for-duty exams, work performance records, investigations involving the applicant and any prior arrests or criminal convictions,” by WTTW.

Pritzker unenthused about tax relief bill for Bears stadium in Arlington Heights, Illinois 

“Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday that he is “evaluating” a bill in Springfield that would benefit the Chicago Bears’ move to northwest suburban Arlington Heights. But Pritzker did not sound too keen on the idea,” by CBS News.

Illinois redistricting effort possible, but unlikely to yield more Democratic seats 

“Any move by Democrats in Springfield to engage in a redistricting tit-for-tat with Texas Republicans is unlikely to yield a bonanza of new Democratic congressional seats from Illinois, a top expert in redistricting predicts,” by WBEZ.

Illinois’ regressive tax structure is ‘crime of the century’ that needs to be solved, Chicago’s CFO says 

“Chicago’s chief financial officer on Tuesday branded Illinois’ regressive tax structure as “the crime of the century” that can only be solved through a graduated income tax and extending the state sales tax to professional services,” by the Chicago Sun Times.

State education board to vote on new test scoring system

“Education officials in Illinois expect to see a marked increase this year in the percentage of students classified as proficient in reading, writing and math, along with a slight decline in proficiency rates in science,” by Capitol News Illinois.

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Johnson rules out proposed $1.5B corporate payroll tax 

“A proposed tax on corporate payroll expenses would not be legal under the city’s current taxing authority, as drafted, administration officials have determined, eliminating a progressive revenue option Mayor Brandon Johnson hoped could help solve Chicago’s budget woes,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

City Gives 27th Ward Aldermanic Hopefuls Just A Week To Apply For Ald. Walter Burnett’s Job 

“The city is giving those interested in replacing Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) just one week to apply for the job. But a former alderman who closely watches such appointments in Chicago says that the process could already be rigged from the start as Burnett’s youngest son is widely expected to be named to the seat,” by Block Club Chicago.

Anjanette Young ordinance slated for vote — without no-knock warrant ban 

“A years-in-the-making ordinance overhauling the Chicago Police Department’s search warrant policy could at last get over the finish line in September, advocates hope, but without the ban on no-knock warrants Mayor Brandon Johnson promised in his 2023 campaign,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Firefighters Union Reaches Tentative Deal With Mayor’s Office After 4 Years Of Contract Negotiations 

“After four years of contract negotiations, the Chicago Fire Department Union Local 2 has reached a tentative agreement with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office. Chicago firefighters and paramedics have been working without a contract or pay raises since 2021,” by Block Club Chicago.

CPS Banking on TIF Funding, Pension Contingency to Keep Cuts Out of Classrooms in Latest Budget Plan

“Chicago Public Schools officials are planning to rely on non-classroom cuts, additional revenue streams and a contingency that puts off a $175 million pension payment in order to close a budget gap of more than $700 million,” by WTTW.

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents – The Battle for the Soul of the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is searching for a path out of the political wilderness after being locked out of power on the federal level in last year’s elections.

The crypto industry notched its first major legislative victory with the passage of a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Now, both industry and lawmakers are turning their attention to the more expansive effort to create a regulatory framework for non-stablecoin digital assets.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing – In-Conversation with RealClearMarkets Editor John Tamny

RealClearMarkets editor John Tamny joins host Howard Schweitzer to share his counter-conventional thinking on today’s most pressing economic debates. From fiscal policy to the national debt, Tamny challenges widely held assumptions and urges business and political leaders to think differently. Featuring Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ CEO Howard Schweitzer and RealClearMarkets’ John Tamny.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

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